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5 last-minute Valentine's Day ideas that skip the fancy restaurants

5 last-minute Valentine's Day ideas that skip the fancy restaurants

Axios11-02-2025

Valentine's Day is approaching fast and if you haven't made plans yet, we've got you covered.
Zoom in: Since the holiday falls on a Friday this year, romantic restaurant reservations can be expensive or hard to come by, but you can still treat your loved one to something special.
Here's a roundup of some last minute ideas that won't break the bank.
🚣‍♂️ Take a boat ride in Stow Lake:
Pedal or row across this charming little lake in Golden Gate Park and catch sight of its small waterfall and Chinese pavilion. Rentals are first-come, first-served and start at $26.
For a small additional fee, you can also bring your pup. Open from 10am- 4:30pm Friday and Saturday. Located at 50 Blue Heron Lake Dr.
🌅 Head to a view spot
San Francisco is spoiled by picturesque vantage points to take in the sights while maybe doing a little canoodling.
Corona Heights Park has stunning views of the city skyline.
Crissy Field near the Marina is the perfect place for a picnic with scenic views of the Golden Gate Bridge along the shore.
Bernal Heights Park in the city's southeastern side has panoramic views of downtown and the hills of the East Bay.
Sutro Heights, located at the westernmost point of Lands End on the former site of Sutro Baths, is one of the most beautiful places to watch the sunset with views of Ocean Beach.
🎵 Bathe yourself in sound:
Forge an auditory connection with your partner with an evening sound bath at Haum in the Mission, complete with a restorative yoga session. From 6:15 - 7:30pm. Tickets start at $40. Located on the fifth floor at 2973 16th St.
👾 Play games at an arcade bar
Whether you prefer video games or table games, the city's many arcade bars are a great option for couples looking to have an evening packed with booze and some playful competition. Our favorites include Emporium on Divisadero and The Detour in the Castro.
🎭 See a sultry cabaret show
AfterDark by the pole athlete Pink Puma combines acrobatics, cabaret, burlesque, and aerial art for a unique and steamy circus-like show certain to captivate you. Showtimes vary by day. Tickets start at $44. Located at the Great Star Theater at 636 Jackson St.

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